Journalists Must Become Better Listeners
Here is good advice, in a good advice packed column, from Ventura County Star editor Joe R. Howry:
From my own unscientific observations, the anger index has intensified in direct proportion to the increasing polarization over issues such as the war in Iraq, immigration and, of course, politics. Most of the time, the anger is directed at the newspaper; sometimes it’s directed at me personally. Occasionally, it’s anonymous….
If there is a common thread to the anger it is that it’s genuine. It also seems to me that by expressing anger, many people gain some relief. Once they are able to get what’s bothering them off their chests, they are more inclined to engage in a dialogue and a willingness to at least try to understand an opposing point of view.
It has taken me a while to really understand this dynamic. Even now, I will, on occasion, become defensive and argumentative with people. I hate when I do that. I have to keep reminding myself that I need to be a better listener. When I am a good listener, what ensues is a meaningful conversation from which I invariably learn a great deal….
We failed to see that our audiences were demanding more and better from us. We were arrogant in thinking that our audiences would not see us as anything less than noble, and we have been absolutely pigheaded in our willingness to do anything about it.
